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| Soyuz Kontakt A Provisional drawing of Soyuz Kontakt A (Active) derivative of Soyuz for earth orbit tests of Kontakt lunar orbit docking system. It is uncertain if the Soyuz included the forward-mounted maneuvering engines, or just the active docking mechanism of the LOK lunar orbiter. Certainly the LOK's cupola forward viewing port would have to be included in the orbital module. Credit: © Mark Wade. 17,398 bytes. 600 x 188 pixels. |
Modification of the Soyuz 7K-OK spacecraft with the active portion of the Kontakt rendezvous and docking system, developed for the lunar orbit rendezvous of the 7K-OK manned lunar orbiter. Crews trained but due to delays with the N1 booster, the spacecraft never flew. Craft.Crew Size: 3. Design Life: 10 days. Orbital Storage: 35.00 days. Total Length: 8.0 m. Maximum Diameter: 2.7 m. Total Habitable Volume: 9.00 m3. Total Mass: 6,560 kg. Total Propellants: 500 kg. Primary Engine Thrust: 417 kgf. Main Engine Propellants: Nitric Acid/Hydrazine. Main Engine Isp: 282 sec. Total spacecraft delta v: 390 m/s. Electric system: 0.50 total average kW. Electrical System: Solar panel span: 9.80 m, area: 14.00 sq. m.
The Kontakt system designed for the lunar orbit rendezvous and docking of the LOK lunar orbiter and LK lunar lander was to be mounted on two Soyuz spacecraft and tested in earth orbit. The first Kontakt crews were established in February 1969. By April 1969, two separate docking missions were to be executed after the triple Soyuz-6/7/8 mission. The first crew of what would have been Soyuz 10/11 and Soyuz 12/13 would have piloted the active spacecraft, simulating the LOK. The second launch would have launched a passive spacecraft, simulating the LK.
The active spacecraft in the second planned test of the Kontakt lunar rendezvous/docking system.
By December 1970, there were four crews in training for two pairs of Soyuz spacecraft to be launched to test the Kontakt lunar rendezvous/docking system. The launches at that time were scheduled to occur after the missions to the Salyut 1 space station were completed. Soyuz Kontakt 1 would have been the active spacecraft of the first mission.
Soyuz Kontakt 3 would have been the active spacecraft of the second dual launch to test the Kontakt lunar orbit rendezvous system.
Final crews selected for a dual Soyuz mission in Earth orbit to test the Kontakt docking system to be used on the lunar landing LOK and LK spacecraft. The Kontakt-A Soyuz would have been the active spacecraft, simulating the LOK lunar orbiter.